| dc.description.abstract | There are more or less 900 000 farm workers in South Africa. Among these
approximately 600 000 are permanently employed, while the rest are seasonal workers.
It is estimated that six to seven million people are currently living on farms, which
implies that up to seven people are dependent on the wages of a single farm worker. In
order to improve the situation of farm workers, the Department of Labour implemented
the minimum wage system for farm workers on 1 March 2003.
The argument is posed, however, that many farm workers would lose their jobs because
of the sectoral stipulations. Unemployment has far-reaching consequences. Farm
workers who have lived on farms before, have to resettle and adapt to new social
structures, such as community structures and new codes of conduct. In order to adapt
to social change, it is argued that training agencies could use project management as a
suitable management tool to launch empowering interventions.
The analysis of the social conditions in which farm workers find themselves ought to be
undertaken on the basis of a specific theory on changes. From this perspective certain
theories of social change have been identified. Empowerment is discussed as a process
of change. This means an increase in influence and control by acquiring knowledge and
skills by means of the necessary training. While theorists on conflict view conflict as the
main driving force in change, empowerment is considered to be the process by means
of which change can be managed effectively.
For the rest the principles of project management are discussed to show that the project
cycle is based on project management principles. If project management principles and
the project cycle are applied as yardsticks during an empowerment project, the chances
of being successful will be much better than when launching an unstructured and
unplanned project.
The most important conclusion to be made from this research is that the management
of change by means of empowerment projects is of decisive importance to unemployed
farm workers. Empowerment projects for unemployed farm workers are the first steps in
the direction of effective management of social change and sustainable development in
South Africa. | |
